His Always: Book 1 Rhodes Character Series

Chapter 15: Natalie

I whimper escapes my mouth as the last stitch is placed by Penelope. I feel Tate tighten his grip on my shoulders. No one has said anything for quite some time. Everyone falling into a comfortable silence as Pen repairs the damage I did to my stitches. The only thing I am focusing on is matching my breath to Tates and focusing on the soft circle he is drawing on the outside of my arm. I feel okay – well slightly okay – for the first time since yesterday.

Penelope is the first to break the silence, "Okay, Natalie, how does that feel?" I nod my head. Not having the the energy to respond. Penelope steps away. Taking some of the excess materials with her that were laying on my bed. I feel Tate flex to move. I turn my head, too quickly, pain shoots down my neck. I try not to wince. I don't want Tate to notice and tell me I can't shower. "Easy sweetness," he states. "I'm gonna have to move us if you want to get into the shower." I make an inaudible noise – as if I don't know that already. But I feel so safe here. The panic in my throat feels relaxed since the first time I have been fully conscious. I don't want it to return.

"Can someone administer some Zofran? All the movement of the shower is going to make me feel sick again. Also – has anyone done a post-op ultrasound to make sure all of my baby –" My crack in my voice betrays me. Tate squeezes me firmly but also gentle at the same time. I clear my throat and continue "—all of the baby was cleared out during the D&C?" I see the tears in Pen's eyes. She swallows hard and stares at her hands before looking up to make eye contact with Tate behind me. Tate speaks.

"Yes – Natalie a post-op ultrasound was completed earlier while you were still unconscious. You know the drill. We will do another tomorrow and probably one more before you are discharged since you had such trauma to your stomach." I feel a single tear hit my bare shoulder. Tate doesn't move and we don't acknowledge it. A knock on the door breaks the thick tension in the room. Pen walks to the door, "I will be available for whatever either of you need tonight. I am on until 7AM – just have someone page me. I'll come back and check on you after I make rounds on my patients again." She moves to open the door. I hear an unfamiliar voice on the other side of the door that immediately spikes my heart rate.

"shhh, sweetness, you gotta stay calm, okay? I'm not leaving your side." Tate whispers into my left ear. I take a deep breath but it doesn't relax me because I see Eric walk in with two police officers. I suck in sharply and try to press myself to where I could it up even more. Tate grips me tightly, so I can't move. I pop the pulse monitor off my index finger so the room can't hear the beep of my heartbeat. "Ms. Pearson – I am Detective Carlson and this is my partner, Detective Reedling. The hospital called after you were admitted in the shape you were in. Could we maybe have a seat and chat with you a little about what happened to you?" Their sudden intrusion to my bubble pisses me off.

"I was actually promised a shower." I spit out aggressively. Tate soothingly runs his hands through the bottom of my hair. Gentle not to irritate my scalp stitches. "Detectives – Dr. Pearson has been through quite the 18 hours. Could this wait until morning? She was promised a shower and I don't want to be the one to hold her from that. And no offense – I don't think you want to keep her from that either." Tate tries to squeak out a laugh to break the ice.

Detective Reedling speaks up this time. "Doctor, as you know its important for us to gather as much physical evidence in the first 24 hours and is even more imperative that physical evidence be gathered before the survivor is fully cleaned." She pauses as if she is trying to be even more delicate with her next statement. I am growing more irritated with each passing second. I feel my shower slipping away. She continues speaking, "if we could just have our tech gather some remaining physical evidence it would really help us find who did this." I close my eyes. I have a decision to make here. I didn't think I would have to make it yet. I clear my throat. I don't want to sound weak.

"I don't want to press charges." Now I feel Tate go ridged behind me. "Natalie – I don't think you need to make that decision now. Let's let them gather their evidence and then you can shower. You can make the decision regarding all that tomorrow." Detective Carlson steps closer. I feel him invading the bubble. Tate and I's bubble. It puts me more on edge. "Ms., All we would need is to scr –"

"It's Doctor to you Detective." I sit up straighter. My incision pulls in protest but I don't let them see me sweat. He places his hand over his chest. "Doctor, my apologies. All we would need is to scrape underneath your fingernails, snap a few photographs nad take a few swabs for a rape kit. We would be out of your hair as soon as possible." Tate squeezes me again. I laugh. "I wasn't raped so – just get what you need to scrape under my nails. I am tired and I just really want to shower." Tate tries to pull me back to get me to lean more of my weight on him again. I don't budge.

Tate speaks, "Detectives – can I have a moment with the doctor, please?" Both of them immediately nod. That's right. I am in charge of how this night goes. I hear the door click. "Alright Doctor badass – we are going to have a chat." Tate slides out from behind me and places some pillows behind me to support me. I cross my arms over my chest like a child. My patience is gone. If he want's to go – let's go. He places his hand under my chin – lifting it, trying to get us to make eye contact. I look towards the door. I won't give him the satisfaction. "Nat – look at me, please. I want you to have options – that's all. I know you feel this way now but maybe in a few days you will want to press charges. Someone hurt you. They are not getting away with that."

My tears betray me. I wipe them quickly. I feel like I am a mess. Physically, emotionally, a total mess. I am NEVER a mess. I don't let myself become one. I can't speak. My voice will give me away for sure. "Let me do the photos, scrapings and rape kit and then we can have our shower and we'll put on some trashy TV show that we both love and go to sleep. Okay? We're so close – let's just check this box."

"I wasn't raped." It's all I can reply for now. I shudder a shallow breath out. Trying to remember all my breathing techniques to keep the panic at bay. Tate closes his eyes. I can see the exhaustion on his face. I forgot how long of a day this was for him too. I am being ridiculous. "Okay – you can do the photos and scrapings. But that's it Tate – I want to shower after."

He hops up probably before I can change my mind. "Done – let me page someone to get me the supplies." He walks over to the nurses button. Thank goodness he didn't leave to go get them. I am scared to be alone.