A/N: Thanks for the reviews. This chapter was probably my favourite one to write for this entire fic, so I hope you all enjoy it!
Chapter Twenty-two: Witnesses
Tampa, FL
The following morning, back in the court room saw Officer Kenna Mack describe arriving at the scene of Quinn's car crash.
August 6th 2012 – Tampa, FL
Kenna pulled her vehicle to the side and turned the sirens off but left the lights flashing. She quickly got out and hurried over to the car smashed into a tree. The front was pushed back with the edges curving around the trunk of the tree. Kenna pulled her flashlight out and switched it on. She scanned the scene for any smoke and saw some coming from the crushed engine. She next checked for leaking oil or fuel and saw none.
Kenna approached the car, shining the light inside, seeing a figure hunched forward over the steering wheel, blood gushing from a head wound.
"Can you hear me?" called Kenna loudly, reaching the victim and pressing her fingers to the pulse point. A wave of relief washed through when she found one, "Hello?" called Kenna tapping the woman on the shoulder. Kenna grabbed her radio, "Officer Mack to District One, do you copy?"
"District One copying, please go ahead Officer Mack."
"I'm at the scene of a code four. I need an ambulance and fire brigade ASAP," reported Kenna before she gave the address.
"Copy that. Services are on-route to your location."
Kenna ended the communication and raced back to her car to grab her first aid kit. She pulled on gloves and grabbed a thick gauze and bandage to wrap around the head wound, being careful to not cause any movement to the victim's neck or spine.
"Hold on, honey. We'll get you out of here," said Kenna softly.
"Mmm," came a groan from the victim followed by a sob.
"What's your name, sweetheart?"
The victim let out a cry of pain but it wasn't from her injuries. Kenna leaned in closer and spotted the bottle of half empty vodka. She looked at the woman, dressed in nice clothing, a jumper with Florida Championship Wrestling on the seat beside her and no other signs of drugs of alcohol in her car.
"H-he… I-I didn't stop him," moaned the victim, "He trapped me… r-raped me."
Kenna sucked in a deep breath and looked behind her at the arriving ambulance, fire brigade and another two cop cars from her district.
"What do we have Officer Mack?"
"Just the one victim – the driver of the vehicle. I spotted a half empty bottle of vodka on the floor. The driver came too and has made mention of being raped, possibly just prior to this crash," explained Kenna as the paramedics and fire fighters set to work on getting the woman out of the car alive.
"Right – Mack, head to the hospital and ensure they do a rape kit test. We'll start surveying the scene here and will meet you at the hospital after."
Present – Tampa, FL
Quinn blinked back tears when Kenna had finished being questioned by her father. She didn't recall regaining consciousness to confess to being raped. It explained why a rape test was performed on her without her sound knowledge. Due to her state her sister Hanna had been called for permission something Hanna hadn't informed Quinn about.
"Your next witness please, Prosecution," called the Judge after Nigel's lawyer stated she had no questions.
"We call Mary Gardner, a Nurse at Tampa General Hospital in Emergency," said Frank.
A woman with a middle aged, kindly face walked forward. Her blonde hair was pulled up into a ponytail, allowing her large brown eyes to be prominently seen.
August 6th 2012 – Tampa, FL
Mary jumped up from the nurse's station as a gurney was wheeled in with a woman in a neck brace and wounds to her face and body on it. She'd not long spoken to a police officer about this patient and having dealt with more rape victims then she would have liked too, she was assigned to the conduct the rape kit test and care for the patient whilst they were in emergency.
"Victims name is Quinn Gallagher. She was in a single car crash. She lost control of the vehicle and smashed head on into a tree. Open wound to her forehead, dislocation of the right hip and possible spinal injury. She has come in and out of consciousness multiple times," explained the paramedic, "Her pulse is steady but she's losing quite a bit of blood so we definitely think her blood alcohol level is high."
Mary helped wheel the gurney into an emergency room as the doctor arrived with more medical staff.
"Rape victim," said Mary to the doctor softly as the paramedic also relayed their information.
"We need to conduct the rape kit test before anything else. Have you gotten permission?" asked the doctor.
"She's been unconscious now for about ten minutes," said the paramedic before grabbing a bag at the end of the gurney, "We found her bag. Her phone is inside it."
"Look for an emergency contact Mary and call them," ordered the Doctor.
Mary grabbed the phone and hoped it wasn't locked with a passcode. She noticed an Emergency option and hit it finding a list of names. Upon spotting a Hanna Gallagher she dialled it.
"Quinn?" came a bleary sounding voice, "Is everything okay?"
"Hi, my name is Mary Gardener and I'm a nurse in the emergency department of Tampa General Hospital. Is Quinn Gallagher a close relation to you?"
"Y-yes… she's my sister. Is everything okay?"
"Your sister has been in a car accident, however before she lost consciousness she mentioned being raped. We would like to conduct a rape kit test however without Quinn able to verbally communicate permission we are hoping a family member would give it. The sooner we conduct the test the better chance we have of obtaining evidence that could catch the attacker."
"Yes… yes do it! Umm, I'm going to get on the earliest flight I can to Tampa… please, PLEASE call me if anything else happens with Quinn!"
"Of course. Thank you, Miss Gallagher."
Mary ended the call and grabbed the rape kit. She went back into the emergency ward room and the male medical personnel left the room so Mary could perform the rape kit with assistance from another female nurse. Once done, the male medical staff returned and set about tending to her wounds and assessing her for broken bones.
"She needs to be sent for an x-ray of her pelvis, right rip and spine. We need to get an MRI of her spine because I am certain there is damage done," stated the Doctor sternly to the resident beside him, "Saline wash for the head wound. Let's get it sutured – Rogers! Add a MRI for the brain. We need to assess a level of damage sustained. I am positive she is going to suffer a concussion from the head wound."
"On it."
Mary helped tend to cut's and grazes, as well as monitoring the woman's heart rate and blood pressure. The next hour was a flurry of activity with it becoming intense when Quinn's heart rate dropped low.
"We need to stabilize her! Inject four micrograms of norepinephrine!" ordered the Doctor as Mary quickly injected it into an IV line.
Seconds passed and the sudden increase of the heart rate picked up and stabilizing.
"Right, let's get her through the x-ray's and MRI. Monitor her heart rate and blood pressure."
Mary returned to the emergency ward with her patient still unconscious. She wrote on the clipboard she had checked over her vitals and saw the Doctor observing the results on the computer.
"She's going to need surgery to her spine… her hip joint is shattered so that will need replacing and her pelvis is fractured," murmured the Doctor, "Concussion is a definite."
"Excuse me?"
Mary looked up and saw a man with silver hair and blue eyes, "Yes?"
"My name is William Regal. I just received a phone call from Hanna Gallagher in regard to her sister Quinn Gallagher being here?"
"Yes, yes she is. Can I ask your relation to Quinn?"
"I am her boss… well trainer. She is a wrestler with the WWE."
Mary felt herself pale in shock, "Mr Regal-" Mary looked behind her at the Doctor and gestured to him, "Doctor Lansbury will be able to tell you more regarding Quinn's condition."
"Thank you," nodded William, worry etched all over his face.
Mary hurried away to go and check on Quinn and found her twitching and whimpering. Mary checked her vitals and moved closer to Quinn's side, "It's alright darlin'. You're in hospital. We will take good care of you here. Your sister Hanna is on her way, okay?"
"J-Jon," murmured Quinn with a furrowed brow, "J-J-Jon."
Mary shushed Quinn and gave her hand a gentle squeeze as the Doctor came in with William.
Present – Tampa, FL
Quinn wiped more tears from her face as Mary finished answering questions for Nigel's lawyer. Mary stepped down from the stand and walked past, smiling politely at Quinn, who managed to give her a watery one back. She didn't remember anything certain from being in emergency but she could strangely sense Mary was familiar to her.
"Next witness for the Prosecution?" called the Judge.
"We call forward Jonathon Good as witness, Your Honour," said Frank.
Quinn sat up straighter and looked over as Jon walked forward. He was dressed in a black suit with a dark green buttoned shirt. He had brushed his hair back and shaved his face clean of his short beard.
Once sworn in, Jon sat in the witness box, shifting in the uncomfortable seat until he found a position that was relatively decent.
August 6th 2012 – Tampa, FL
Jon frowned and looked over towards the toilets. Quinn had been gone for nearly twenty minutes and he wasn't sure if it was because of a line or if maybe she was getting them more drinks.
"Want me to go check?" asked Leighla seeing where Jon was looking.
"Yeah, yeah. Please," nodded Jon.
Leighla slipped away towards the bathroom and Jon watched the bathroom hall entrance like a hawk. A couple of minutes later Leighla came back out and shook her head at Jon that she hadn't spotted Quinn.
Jon pulled his phone out and saw no messages from her. Joe and Colby picked up on the sudden shift in mood and walked over, dropping their pool cues onto the table.
"Quinn hasn't come back from the bathroom and Leighla just checked the bathroom. She wasn't in there," said Jon.
"Let's scout out the bar and meet back here," said Joe, "She's probably bumped into someone she knows and is talking with them."
Jon nodded, knowing it would probably be the case. He started moving around the bar carefully, scanning the room. It was a busy night with many patrons gathered around tables with various types of drinks. The bar had a line of people and bar tenders were busy serving them. Jon spotted one of the regular security guards and caught his attention.
"Hey man," said Jon greeting him with a fist bump, "You see Quinn?"
"I saw her head to the bathroom but I didn't see her leave. I had to go deal with a couple of rowdy idiots at the darts," he answered.
Jon nodded and thanked him and continued moving around the room. He finally got to the bar and leaned over to get their attention. He spotted a new face amongst the bar tenders and asked him to get one of the regular bar tenders Jon knew.
"Hey, what's up?" asked the woman with bright red hair and freckles.
"Did you see Quinn?"
"Yeah. She brought some vodka and left about fifteen minutes ago. I figured you two had a fight or something," she answered with a frown, "Everything okay?"
"Was Quinn okay?"
The woman frowned in thought, "She seems a bit tense. Not her normal chirpy self."
Jon thanked her and hurried back to the meeting spot. He arrived at the same time as Colby.
"Her car's gone," said Colby, "The bouncer said she tore out of the car park about fifteen minutes ago."
"Jules at the bar said she saw her. She brought a bottle of vodka and wasn't herself," said Jon running a hand through his hair in agitation, "What the fuck is going on?"
"None of us can drive," pointed out Joe.
"On it," said Colby whipping his phone out, "Hey Raya… yeah I know… look Quinn's taken off and we don't know why… can you get us from the Rusty Bar? … Brilliant, see you in five."
Jon jumped into the front passenger seat as Saraya pulled into the carpark.
"What the fuck is going on?" demanded Saraya as she reversed out and turned onto the road.
"We don't know… I'm going to try and call her," sighed Jon dialling Quinn's mobile number.
It rang out before her voice mail kicked in, "Hey its Quinn! Leave me a message at the beep and I'll get back to you!"
"Quinn, what the hell is going on? Call me, please!"
Jon drummed his fingers on his lap as Saraya turned onto the main road. They were all scanning their surroundings trying to spot Quinn's car or even Quinn herself. As Saraya rounded a bend Jon yelled out.
"STOP!" he pointed to flashing lights and a very familiar car smashed into a tree, "Quinn! FUCK!"
Saraya pulled over and everyone tore out of the car running over to the police tape.
"Whoa, stop!" ordered a police officer, "This is an active scene."
"That's my girlfriends car!" exclaimed Jon, his heart pounding frantically against his chest, "Is she okay? Please tell me Quinn isn't dead!"
"She's been taken to hospital. She's in a critical condition," spoke another officer clearly of a more senior role, "Tampa General."
"Thank you," said Joe as he and Colby pulled Jon forcefully towards Saraya's car.
"Come on, man. We need to get to Quinn."
Jon ran into the hospital and straight to the emergency waiting room. He instantly spotted William and hurried over to him.
"Quinn!" blurted out Jon.
"They've taken her to surgery," said William looking pale as Jon fell to his knees, "I don't know the extent but it's bad… she was drunk."
"Drunk?" frowned Joe, "Quinn wasn't drinking."
"She brought vodka before she left," reminded Leighla.
"But why? Why?" wondered Colby with a frown.
"There must be a reason. Quinn isn't that reckless," said Saraya sitting beside William.
All Jon could focus on was the fact his girlfriend, the woman he was madly in love with, was in surgery and he hated feeling so lost and helpless in that moment.
August 7th 2012 – Tampa, FL
Jon paced back and forth across the corridor. Quinn was out of surgery and in intensive care. He didn't know if she had woken up yet or not. All he knew was her sister had arrived five hours ago, followed by her mother and father. Jon hadn't been let in to see her and it was killing him.
With a sigh he turned and walked down to the coffee machine and made himself his sixth cup. As he turned to look down the corridor he saw William Regal walk out.
When had William gone in and why hadn't Jon himself been allowed in?
"William!" yelled Jon abandoning his half-made coffee and running after the man.
William turned and looked at Jon with an odd expression.
"Is Quinn okay? Is she awake?" asked Jon.
"She is awake. She made it through surgery fine… look Jon… she doesn't want to see anybody. She has her family here right now and has asked me to let you all know that she doesn't want to speak or see anyone."
Jon felt as if he'd been punched forcefully in the stomach, "W-what?"
"Go home Jon. Give Quinn time."
Jon frowned and shook his head, taking steps back, "N-no. Quinn needs me. I won't leave her… she hates her parents, William! She wouldn't want them around her!"
William sighed and turned and left. Jon looked over at the door to intensive care and marched over to it. He banged on the door loudly.
"I need to see Quinn Gallagher! Let me in! I'm her boyfriend! She needs me! SHE NEEDS ME!" Jon pounded louder with nurses and doctors hurrying to see the commotion, "LET ME IN! QUINN! QUINN, I LOVE YOU! PLEASE! PLEASE LET ME SEE YOU, BABE!" Jon was suddenly grabbed from behind and forcefully yanked back by security officers, but still he called out to Quinn, "QUINN! QUINN!"
August 12th 2012 – Tampa, FL
Six days. Six days and nothing from Quinn or any of her family. The hospital wouldn't let Jon in and Quinn refused to see even Saraya, Joe, Colby and Leighla. William wouldn't discuss anything further and Jon was just at a loss of what to do.
"She's been transferred."
Jon looked up to see Saraya in her training gear as people around them prepared for the days training.
"I rang to try and speak to her but the person said Quinn had been transferred. I asked where to and she said to Southview Medical Center… in Dayton, Ohio."
Jon felt his heart crack and break. He looked down at his phone and suddenly stood up and stormed out of the training centre. He paced back and forth outside before turning and smashing his hand into the solid, cement wall. He let out a yell of rage, tears streaking angry tracks down his face.
"WHAT THE FUCK, QUINN?" roared Jon, looking up at the sky as Joe and Colby ran out with Saraya, "Why is she doing this? What happened? Why-why did she drive drunk? What the fuck was she fucking thinking? How could she be so fucking stupid and fucking not come and tell me what the fucking fuck was going on?"
"I don't know man," sighed Joe.
Jon licked his lips, "I don't know what to do… the woman I love has pushed me away… locked me out and I just want to help her and be there for her. What do I do? What do I do?"
Jon's voice broke at the end and it was Saraya who stepped forward and simply hugged Jon.
"We let Quinn do what she needs to do. She has to have a reason for this and we just need to believe that," said Saraya as Jon sobbed brokenly, "One day we will know why."
Present – Tampa, FL
Quinn wiped her face free of tears as Jon stepped down. Her heart was breaking at the pain she had put him through, along with her dearest friends. She remembered her mind being such a broken mess at the time with her coming to terms with her possible career ending injuries and dealing with the fact that she had been raped. Her mind was so consumed she just didn't think it right to bring Jon into the mess and felt the best choice was to vanish from his life.
"Next witness for the prosecution," demanded the Judge.
"Mr William Regal," announced Frank as he stood up from beside Quinn.
August 6th 2012 – Tampa, FL
William muted his television as his mobile phone rang. He picked it up from the coffee table and pressed the answer button, not recognising the number.
"William Regal speaking," he greeted.
"Yes, yes, hello. My name is Hanna Gallagher. My sister is Quinn Gallagher – she trains with FCW," came a frantic and stressed voice.
"Yes, I know Quinn," said William with a frown as he leaned forward in his seat.
"I just got a call from Tampa General Hospital. T-they said Quinn is there. S-she was in a crash a-and was… was raped… please, I need someone to be there until I arrive. Please, please can you go?"
William had jumped up the moment Hanna mentioned the hospital, "Of course. I will go there now. You focus on getting here. If anything urgent happens I promise to contact you."
"Thank you so much Mr Regal."
William ended the call and grabbed his wallet and car keys and left.
"Mr Regal," said Doctor Lansbury as Mary went to check on Quinn, "I'm afraid it isn't looking too good for Miss Gallagher. She is going to require surgery to her spine to fix the damage."
William pulled his glasses on to view the scans the doctor was showing him, "Quinn is a professional wrestler… can you tell me if this is career ending?"
"At this stage I would say yes… but our surgeon is world renown. If anyone can fix this, he can. He is on his way now so Quinn, if she is stabilised enough should be in surgery in the next few hours," explained Doctor Lansbury, "She also needs a hip replacement and with that comes extensive rehabilitation. That, I feel, will most likely end any chance of a professional wrestling career."
William let out a breath of defeat. Quinn was a gifted athlete. Her in ring skills were of a high standard and he believed she would have gone a long way in her career.
"Would you like to see Miss Gallagher?"
William nodded and the doctor led him through to where Quinn was. William, who very rarely swore, uttered a cuss under his breath at the sight of Quinn. Mary was tending to some wounds that needed redressing.
"Her sister, Hanna, told me Quinn was… was raped… is it true?"
Mary looked at William, "Evidence I collected would seem that way." Mary shifted Quinn's gown to show a bruise on her non-broken hip. "Finger marks from being forcefully grabbed. I've seen enough rape cases to recognise the signs."
"Poor, poor Quinn," sighed William.
August 7th 2012
Quinn was bruised and a shadow of her former self. She clung to her sister's hands as William stood at the end of the bed with her parents seated closet to the window.
"Are you sure?" asked William softly, "He hasn't left the hospital, Quinn. He has been here all night."
"I can't see him. I can't see any of them," said Quinn with a shaken tone, "I just want them to leave me alone… and-and I can't come back to the FCW."
"I must insist you take your time to rethink this, Quinn."
Quinn shook her head, tears rolling down her cheeks as Hanna moved closer and comforted her sister.
"Quinn has made up her mind," stated Quinn's mother, "I suggest you leave and tell that boy to leave as well. Quinn has been through enough and needs her family right now."
William gave a nod and turned and left. He stopped at the door and looked back at Quinn one more time to see her nodding at something Hanna had said.
Present – Tampa, FL
After William finished his turn in the witness stand the Judge called for a recess and that court would resume the next day.
Quinn left the court room slowly. She stared at the ground as tears trickled down her cheek.
"Quinnie."
Quinn looked up and managed a watery smile to Hanna who held her arms open. Quinn hugged the sister as her tears continued to fall.
"I'm a horrible person," whispered Quinn brokenly.
A/N: There we go... review!